Indictment accuses Mansfield man of firearms violation

MANSFIELD - A Mansfield man has been indicted on a firearms violation in the U.S. District Court in Cleveland, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio on its website.

James D. Butler, 55, of Mansfield, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment claims that on Aug. 24, Butler had in his possession a Walther 9 mm pistol and ammunition despite prior convictions for robbery and burglary.

Butler was arrested after the owner of Madison Sporting Arms in Chase Towers Mansfield, 28 Park Avenue West, complained a firearm had been stolen from his store and showed a police officer video surveillance that recorded the theft, according to the news release.

Butler's case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Toepfer, Mark S. Bennett and Aaron P. Howell following investigations by the Mansfield Police Department, according to the news release.